Page 2 of 288
Seating and Safety Restraints 105
Seating 105
Safety restraints 107
Air bags 119
Child restraints 131
Driving 148
Starting 148
Brakes 153
Transmission operation 158
Vehicle loading 170
Trailer towing 172
Roadside Emergencies 181
Getting roadside assistance 181
Hazard flasher switch 182
Fuel pump shut-off switch 182
Fuses and relays 183
Changing tires 194
Jump starting 201
Wrecker towing 206
Customer Assistance 207
Reporting safety defects (U.S. only) 217
Cleaning 218
Underbody preservation 223
Table of Contents
2
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O/D off
Illuminates when the overdrive
function has been turned OFF using
the transmission control switch
(TCS).
If the light does not come on or the light flashes steadily, have
your vehicle serviced as soon as possible, damage to the
transmission could occur.
Turn signals
Illuminates when the turn signals or
the hazard lights are turned on. If
the lights stay on continuously or
flash faster, check for a burned-out bulb.
High beams
Illuminates when the high beam
headlamps are turned on.
Door ajar
Illuminates when any door is open
(or not fully closed).
Anti-theft system (if equipped)
Refer toSecuriLockypassive
anti-theft systemin theLocks and
Securitychapter.
Four wheel drive high (if equipped)
Illuminates when four-wheel drive is
put in high range.
NOTE:If the light continues to
flash have the system serviced.
O/D
OFF
DOOR
AJAR
Instrument Cluster
16
Page 93 of 288
To return to a previously set speed
²Press RSM. For RSM to operate,
the vehicle speed must be faster
than 48 km/h (30 mph).
Indicator light
This light comes on when either the
SET ACCEL or RES controls are
pressed. It turns off when the speed
control OFF control is pressed, the
brake or clutch is applied or the ignition is turned to the OFF position.
OVERDRIVE CONTROL (IF EQUIPPED)
Activating overdrive
(Overdrive) is the normal drive position for the best fuel economy.
The overdrive function allows automatic upshifts and downshifts through
all available gears.
Deactivating overdrive
Press the Transmission Control
Switch (TCS) located on the end of
the gearshift lever. The O/D Off
indicator light will illuminate on the
instrument cluster. The transmission
will operate in all gears except overdrive.
RSM
SET
ACC
COAST
SPEED
CONT
O/D
ON/OFF
Driver Controls
93
Page 94 of 288
To return to normal overdrive mode,
press the Transmission Control
Switch again. The O/D Off indicator
light will no longer be illuminated.
When you shut off and re-start your
vehicle, the transmission will automatically return to normal
(Overdrive) mode.
For additional information about the gearshift lever and the transmission
control switch operation refer to theAutomatic Transmission
Operationsection of theDrivingchapter.
CENTER CONSOLE (IF EQUIPPED)
Your vehicle may be equipped with a
variety of console features. These
include:
²Utility compartment with
cassette/compact disc storage
²Cupholders
²Coin holder slots
²Flip up armrest
WARNING: Use only soft cups in the cupholder. Hard objects
can injure you in a collision.
O/D
ON/OFF
Driver Controls
94
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Reasons given... Consider...
9I have an air bag9Air bags offer greater protection when
used with safety belts. Frontal airbags
are not designed to inflate in rear and
side crashes or rollovers.
9I'd rather be thrown clear9Not a good idea.Peoplewho are
ejected are 40 times more likely
to DIE.Safety belts help prevent
ejection, WE CAN'T9PICK OUR
CRASH9.
WARNING: Do not sit on top of a buckled safety belt to avoid
the Safety Belt Warning Light. Sitting on the safety belt will
increase the risk of injury in an accident.
One time disable
Any time the safety belt is buckled and then unbuckled during an
ignition ON cycle, BeltMinder will be disabled for that ignition cycle only.
Deactivating/activating the BeltMinder feature
Read steps1-9thoroughly before proceeding with the
deactivation/activation programming procedure.
The BeltMinder feature can be deactivated/activated by performing the
following procedure:
Before following the procedure, make sure that:
²The parking brake is set.
²The gearshift is in P (Park) (automatic transmission) or the neutral
position (manual transmission).
²The ignition switch is in the OFF position.
²All vehicle doors are closed.
²The driver's safety belt is unbuckled.
²The parklamps/headlamps are in OFF position (If vehicle is equipped
with Autolamps, this will not affect the procedure).
WARNING: To reduce the risk of injury, do not
deactivate/activate the Belt Minder feature while driving the
vehicle.
Seating and Safety Restraints
117
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STARTING
Positions of the ignition
1. ACCESSORY, allows the
electrical accessories such as
the radio to operate while the
engine is not running.
2. LOCK, locks the steering wheel,
automatic transmission gearshift
lever and allows key removal.
3. OFF, shuts off the engine and
all accessories without locking
the steering wheel. This position
also allows the automatic transmission shift lever to be moved from
the P (Park) position without the brake pedal being depressed.
WARNING: In the ignition OFF position, the automatic
transmission shift lever can be moved from the P (Park)
position without the brake pedal depressed. To avoid unwanted
vehicle movement, always set the parking brake.
4. ON, all electrical circuits operational. Warning lights illuminated. Key
position when driving.
5. START, cranks the engine. Release the key as soon as the engine
starts.
Preparing to start your vehicle
Engine starting is controlled by the powertrain control system.
Note:This system meets all Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment
standard requirements regulating the impulse electrical field strength of
radio noise.
When starting a fuel-injected engine, avoid pressing the accelerator
before or during starting. Only use the accelerator when you have
difficulty starting the engine. For more information on starting the
vehicle, refer toStarting the enginein this chapter.
WARNING: Extended idling at high engine speeds can produce
very high temperatures in the engine and exhaust system,
creating the risk of fire or other damage.
1
2
34
5
Driving
148
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WARNING: Do not park, idle, or drive your vehicle in dry grass
or other dry ground cover. The emission system heats up the
engine compartment and exhaust system, which can start a fire.
WARNING: Do not start your vehicle in a closed garage or in
other enclosed areas. Exhaust fumes can be toxic. Always open
the garage door before you start the engine. SeeGuarding
against exhaust fumesin this chapter for more instructions.
WARNING: If you smell exhaust fumes inside your vehicle,
have your authorized Mazda dealer inspect your vehicle
immediately. Do not drive if you smell exhaust fumes.
Important safety precautions
A computer system controls the engine's idle revolutions per minute
(RPM). When the engine starts, the idle RPM runs higher than normal in
order to warm the engine. If the engine idle speed does not slow down
automatically, have the vehicle checked authorized at an Mazda
dealership. Do not allow the vehicle to idle for more than 10 minutes at
high engine RPM.
Before starting the vehicle:
1. Make sure all vehicle occupants have buckled their safety belts. For
more information on safety belts and their proper usage, refer to the
Seating and safety restraintschapter.
2. Make sure the headlamps and vehicle accessories are off.
If starting a vehicle with an
automatic transmission:
²Make sure the parking brake is
set.
²Make sure the gearshift is in P
(Park).
Driving
149
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If starting a vehicle with a manual
transmission:
²Make sure the parking brake is
set.
²Push the clutch pedal to the
floor.
3. Turn the key to 4 (ON) without
turning the key to 5 (START).
Make sure the corresponding lights illuminate or illuminate briefly. If a
light fails to illuminate, have the vehicle serviced.
²Note:If the driver's safety belt is fastened, the
light may not
illuminate.
Starting the engine
Note:Whenever you start your vehicle, release the key as soon as the
engine starts. Excessive cranking could damage the starter.
1
2
34
5
C
012345
6
RPMx1000
ABS!
BRAKE
CHECK
ENGINE
CHECK
FUEL
CAP
EFH
H
H
PRN D 2 1THEFT
SPEED
CONT
4WD
HIGH
4WD
LOW
O/D
OFFL
L
10MPH 205060
70
304080
90
km/h
0 0 0
10 100
1
20
1
0 0 0 0 0 0406080100
120
140
160
180
20
DOOR
AJAR
CHECK
GAGE
Driving
150